Coin-controlled apparatus



(No Model.)

G. H. EATON.

. GOIN CONTROLLBD APPARATUS.

No. 537,410. Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

Unire GEORGE H. EATON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATU S.

SPCFUATION forming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 537,410, (lated April. 9, 1 895 Applicationfiled October 9, 1894. Serial No. 525,374. (No model.)

To all whom, t 19e/Ly concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. EATON, of Boston, county of Sutfolk,-State of Massachusetts, have invented an lmprovementin Coin- Controlled Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a coin controlled apparatus, and has for its object to provide a book, such for instance as a directory, or other reference book, with suitable devices which when operated by a coin permits the book to be opened; and .which will thereafter automatically close the book.

i In accordance with this invention the book is secured by its back cover or otherwise, to a table having a coin receiving receptacle or` chamber provided with a slot into which the coins are introduced. An arm is pivoted to the table at the left hand `side of the book,

which arm is bent, or formed right-angularly, to extend up across the binding and over upon the front cover, the extremity of which is loosely attached thereto near the right hand edge. A strong spring is provided which acts upon said arm, throwing it in a direction to continuously keep the book closed. The detent is attached to the pivot shaft of the arm which detent engages a detent lever contained within the coin receiving chamber, or beneath the table, said detent lever normally holding the detent, and thereby preventing the arm from being turned on its pivot. The detent lever is extended so that one end passes beneath the coin receiving slot or raceway, in order that a coin dropped therein may fall upon and be supported by said lever. The detent lever is properly counterbalanced, so that when the coin falls upon it, it will be moved by it sufficiently to release the detent, and at such time the book may be opened. The parts are preferably so arranged that the coin is permitted to drop into the coin-receiving chamber by the act vof opening the book. While the book is being used the front cover will be held open by the user, and as soon as he has finished using the book, the bent arm automatically closes the book, and the detent the book, near the right hand edge.

connected therewith or att-ached thereto is again engaged by the detent lever.

Figure 1, shows in front elevation a book provided with a coin-controlled apparatus or attachment embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a left hand side view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the side of the coin-receiving chamber being removed to expose the parts contained therein.

The book a, of any kind, is secured to the table b, by suitable fastenings 2 passing through the back cover, or it may be otherwise secured in place. An arm c, made rightangularor bent as shown in Fig. l, is located at theleft hand side of the book, crossing the binding thereof, and extending over upon the top or front cover. One extremity of the bent arm c is attached loosely to the front cover of The other end of the bent arm c passes down through an opening in the table, and is secured to a pivot shaft d having its bearings in suitable brackets 0r hangers d. The opening in the table is made long enough to permit the arm c to be turned on its pivot in order that the book may be opened, as represented by dotted lines Fig. 1. A strong spiral spring e encircles the pivot shaft al, one end of which is connected to one of the hangers d and the other end to the arm c, the function of which is to continuously hold the arm in its normal position with the book closed as represented by full lines Fig. l, yet the spring may be otherwise arranged to accomplish this result. To one end of the pivot shaft d a detentf is secured, which normally engages or is engaged by a detent lever f pivoted atfz, to a hanger provided for it. The detent leverf is provided with an adjustable weight f3 by means of which it is held up in its normal position, to lock the detentf, and thereby prevent the arm c from being turned on its pivot. The detent lever f is extended beneath a coin-reeeiving slot or raceway g into which the coins are introduced, and as a coin is dropped into the raceway it falls uponthe de tent lever f', moving it sufficiently to release the detentf. The counter-balancing weight f3 is suitably adjusted for this purpose. The detent lever f having been moved, the arm o IOO lIO

is free to be turned on its pivot as it will be when the book is opened, although said arm is turned against the action of the closing spring e. The user must thereafter hold the book open while using it.

The detentf has formed upon it a projection f4 which as the arm c is turned on its pivot strikes the detent lever f and further depresses it, in order that the coin may fall into the chamber provided for it. As soon as the coin thus falls, the detent lever is free to he raised by the weightf, and will rise as the projection f4 is withdrawn from engagemen-t with it, as the arm cis restored to its normal position.

As soon as the user has finished looking at the book, the spring e acts upon and restores the arm c, closing the book, aud the/detentf again engages the detent lever and by it is held until another coin is dropped into the raceway.

I have herein shown a square ended pin or stud h projecting from the pivot shaft 'of the detent lever which is accessible by means of a square socketed key, so that the detent lever may be turned and the Vbook opened without the necessity of dropping a coin into the slot.

Tables of various designs and constructions may be employed, also other means of closing the book automatically in lieu of the spring controlled lever, as for instance, a spring binding or any equivalent therefor, and the several parts above described may be'difterently arranged or organized to accommodate any other construction of table and spring closing device, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim- 1. The combination with a table adapted to sustain a book when closed by engagement With one of its covers, of a swinging self-closing device adapted to engage the other cover of the book, and a coin-controlled locking device for said closing device, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a table adapted to sustain a book when closed by engagement with one of its covers, ofa pivoted arm adapted to be attached to the other cover of the book, a spring acting on said arm to turn it and thereby automaticallyT close the book, and a coin-controlled locking device for said arm, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a table adapted to sustain a book when closed by engagement with one of its covers, of a swinging self-closing device adapted to engage the other cover of the book, a detent on said closing device, and a lever engaging said detent and adapted to be acted upon and moved by a coin, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a table adapted to `sustain a book and with a self-closing device for said book, of a detent on said closing device having a projection, and a lever engaging said detent adapted to be acted upon and movedpby a coin, said lever being also acted upon and moved by said projection, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specitication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. EATON. Witnesses:

M. C. DRIsooLL, C. B. CRocKER. 

